Tom Shand

Thomas Philip Shand (16 April 1911 – 11 December 1969) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Biography Early life and career Shand was born in 1911 in Ngapara, North Otago. His parents were Gilbert Esme Tressillian Shand and Constance Kippenberger, both of whom were from prominent Canterbury families, who owned and operated a farm of their own in Ngapara. In 1922 the family moved to Kaikōura, establishing a new farm at Seaward Valley. He received his education at St Andrew's College, Christ's College, the University of Canterbury.

His studies were cut short by the onset of the Great Depression and he returned home to work as a shepherd on the family farm from 1931 to 1933. He then worked freezing and flax industries from 1933 to 1935, taking an active role in trade union affairs. He was also an active sportsman, competing as a boxer while a student and also played sub-union rugby in Canterbury. In 1942 he finally completed his bachelor's degree in commerce.

The same year he completed his degree Shand volunteered for the Royal New Zealand Air Force and began flight training. He was gazetted as a pilot in January 1943 and in June that year he was promoted to Flying Officer. Between April 1944 and February 1945 he flew Hudson bombers and Catalina flying boats in the South Pacific campaign out of Fiji, Funafuti and Emirau. In 1945 he developed a hearing defect which resulted in him being placed on the reserve until World War II ended due to high-tone deafness.

During the Second National Government he was Minister of Labour (1960–1969), Minister of Immigration (1960–1969), and Minister of Mines (1960–1969), and Minister of Electricity (1963–1969). Prime Minister Keith Holyoake allotted him fifth place in his cabinet in recognition of Shand's strong performance critiquing the Second Labour Government from 1957 to 1960. Shand was also appointed chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Government Administration where he played a major role in reorganising government administration by legislating the State Services Act, 1962. His daughter, Dr Carol Shand, had married the physician Erich Geiringer in 1964.

Shand's premature death eliminated him as a potential successor to the party leadership which may have delayed Holyoake's retirement. Ironically National's shock defeat at the Marlborough by-election was one of the major factors in inducing Holyoake's eventual retirement in February 1972.